Darkness loomed, broken only by the sound of heavy breathing, the snap of twigs underfoot, and the faint rustle of leaves. Cassien pressed on, stalking his quarry through the dense forest. A sharp sting in his side reminded him of a fresh scratch, but it was nothing worth fretting over. His prize was close—too close to let slip now.

Ahead, the figure of a vampire flitted between the trees, its movements frantic and clumsy. Cassien’s lips curled in disdain as he closed the distance. With a sudden burst of speed, he thrust his left arm forward. Frost surged from his fingertips, encasing the creature in jagged ice.

The vampire—a pitiful low-rank wretch—let out a strangled gasp. Panic filled its crimson eyes as it pleaded desperately. “Please! Please, hunter! I-I had no choi—”

Its words ended in a choking gurgle as a razor-sharp ice spike pierced its throat, silencing it forever. Cassien exhaled sharply, his expression twisted in irritation.

“Disgusting creature,” he muttered coldly, his voice dripping with contempt.